The 2016 Summer Olympics began over the weekend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the host country has already come under quite a bit of scrutiny. The Zika virus, a vocal Brazilian population who believe the billion-dollar Olympics budget should have gone toward the host nation’s infrastructure, the fact that all outdoor water events are taking place in what amounts to human sewage—it’s all just a mess. And you can now add another woe to the already untenable conditions: there’s no coffee in the Olympic Village.
No coffee at the Olympics?
That’s right, the world’s elite physical specimens have no coffee at the Olympic Village, and in the largest coffee-producing country in the world, no less. How are they supposed to run faster and jump higher if their eyelids feel like they are made of lead? Never mind how this is going to affect late night extracurriculars in the Olympic Village.
Why no coffee at the Olympics?
For what it’s worth, Fusion reports that coffee service does not fall on the shoulders of the host nation but is a function of corporate sponsorship. Coca-Cola is one of the sponsors for the 2016 Summer Games, and it’s reported that athletes are “limited to Coca-Cola products in the village apartment buildings or at the sports venues.” And Coca-Cola allegedly did not bring coffee, not even from their own Gold Peak line.
How will our Olympic athletes reach new peaks of excellence?
There is still hope yet, as Rio is home to a growing specialty coffee movement with great cafes popping up all over the city. We at Sprudge happen to have a pretty handy list of great shops in our recent Rio coffee city guide. So don’t worry, intrepid Olympians, we’ve got you covered.
This would have never happened if Coca-Cola had bought Intelli five years ago.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.
*top image via IERA
